Arne Slot has suggested that Liverpool will be attentive to the January market in light of Conor Bradley‘s season-ending knee injury, but won’t guarantee a signing.
Bradley will miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering ligament and bone damage in his knee during the 0-0 draw with Arsenal last week.
The right-back has undergone surgery and, like centre-back Giovanni Leoni, will now target a return to action in time for pre-season.
That leaves Liverpool short of senior defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are the last ones standing while Calvin Ramsay is available as cover.
Asked whether Bradley’s injury had changed the club’s plans for the January transfer window, Slot said “everyone is aligned” over their needs but “that’s not say that we’re going to act.”
“I think everyone is aligned about the challenges we are facing,” he told reporters on Friday.
“That’s not to say that we’re going to act, but everyone is aligned on what we are facing.
“There is no one that has a different opinion about it. But that’s not to say that anything is going to happen.”
It appears as though the stance remains that Liverpool will not be forced into any emergency signings but could strike with the right deal for the right player.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk (L) exchanges pennants with Crystal Palace's captain Marc Guéhi before the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
One such market opportunity could arise with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who was close to a £35 million move to Anfield on deadline day in the summer.
Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug on that deal in dramatic circumstances, with Guehi in the process of a medical at Liverpool’s offices in London, but reports indicate that the London club could now sell in January.
Man City are among the sides interested but for the Reds the debate comes in whether it is worth paying a substantial fee this month to sign a player who is available for free in the summer.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Much will depend on Slot’s belief in his current options and their fitness over the next two weeks, as Liverpool would almost certainly prefer to bring Guehi in at the end of the season if they can rely on the players already available.
That could certainly be seen as a gamble but the Premier League champions are renowned for holding firm in the market and – though clearly this matter is debatable – not wasting money.
Beyond the options already listed, Slot also considers midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo capable of filling in either at centre-back or right-back when required.